Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is an alteration in the nearby cartilaginous and musculo-ligament structures, causing the loss of their regenerative capacities. In the early stages of this process, there is a gradual decrease in the height of the intervertebral disc. Because of this, there is a violation of metabolic processes in its core and the appearance of cracks in the fibrous ring.
In the absence of timely treatment, osteophytes appear in cartilaginous tissue and bones. Because of this, the mobility of the cervical spine is significantly reduced, leading to the appearance of a pronounced pain syndrome. According to studies carried out in many countries around the world, almost all people aged between 30 and 35 years have various signs of osteochondrosis.
Symptoms of various stages of osteochondrosis
Depending on the stage and severity of the disease, the main symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis can be:
- headache;
- noise or ringing in the ears;
- severe nausea;
- lack of coordination;
- pain and grinding when turning the head;
- deterioration of vision and hearing.
Do not forget that cervical osteochondrosis refers to chronic diseases in which the symptoms vary depending on a certain stage of the development of the disease. Because of this, the patient may have some signs that indicate a specific stage of changes in the cervical spine:
- Tolerable neck pain that occurs during physical activity, as well as discomfort during normal head turns, appear at the initial stage of the disease, when there is a slight decrease in the height of the intervertebral disc of the cervical spine.
- Sharp pain and feeling of stiffness when turning the neck, as well as grinding and headaches appear during the period of abnormal growth of cartilaginous tissue, with decreased height of the spinal disc and the appearance of cracks in the annulus fibrosus.
- Acute neck pain that does not go away for a long time, numbness and partial loss of sensation of skin areas in the cervical region are recorded when the annulus fibrosus is ruptured and intervertebral hernias form, as well as when the spine is deformed .
Loss of mobility of the neck and upper shoulder girdle with severe and lasting pain is one of the pronounced signs of 4th degree cervical osteochondrosis, when numerous osteophytes develop and the intervertebral disc structures are gradually replaced by scar tissue.
Causes of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
The main cause of problems with the cervical spine is an unbalanced and excessive load. As a rule, osteochondrosis occurs due to age-related changes in the spine, injuries to the cervical spine or metabolic disorders. In addition, the following factors contribute to the onset of this disease:
- genetic predisposition. If a person has congenital connective tissue weakness, they may have impaired functioning of the cervicothoracic spine.
- vertebral instability. The increased mobility of the upper part of the spine often leads to a deterioration of the depreciating properties of the intervertebral discs.
- Diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Cervical spine mobility is often reduced due to anomalies in the development of the skeletal system, scoliosis, flat feet and rheumatic diseases.
- Low physical activity. A sedentary and sedentary lifestyle contributes to deformation of the vertebrae and degradation of connective tissue.
Diagnosis of cervical osteochondrosis
To identify the causes of the disease, it is mandatory to carry out a survey and examination of the patient, determine the areas of pain and the degree of mobility of the spine and evaluate the quality of reflexes.
Several methods are used to diagnose this disease, including:
- X-ray and multislice computed tomography. These instrumental diagnostic methods have proven to be the best for determining cervical spine changes in the later stages of disease development, when spinal bone and cartilage lesions become clearly visible.
- magnetic resonance image. Currently, to determine the changes that occur in the cervical spine, this diagnostic method is most often used, since with its help the doctor can detect the disease at the most initial stage of its occurrence.
- Duplex scan of the arteries of the head and neck. This type of instrumental examination is performed to assess the quality of blood flow and identify vasoconstriction. It is this method that is most often used by doctors to determine the causes of headaches and dizziness in patients.
In addition, ultrasound examination of nearby organs, ECG of the heart, blood and urine tests may be prescribed.
Opinion of an 'expert
Despite the fact that this disease cannot be completely cured, you should not be too afraid of it. If proper measures are taken in a timely manner, almost any manifestation of the disease can be minimized. For example, you need to learn to constantly monitor the correct position of the body, as this can increase the load on the spine. In addition, we must not forget that some sports are dangerous for the cervical spine.
I strongly advise many of my patients to avoid competitive sports where there is a high risk of injury of all kinds. It's best to make a choice in favor of hiking, skiing and swimming. This physical activity will positively affect all parts of the spine.
Conservative methods of treating osteochondrosis
If cervical spine disease was detected at an early stage, conservative methods are used to treat it. They allow you to prevent the development of the disease, relieve unpleasant symptoms and restore mobility in the upper part of the spine.
The conservative method of treating cervical osteochondrosis includes:
- Medical treatment.In this case, doctors prescribe various drugs that allow you to effectively relieve pain and stop the inflammatory process. In addition, modern means contribute to the restoration of blood circulation. Most often, hormonal drugs, pain relievers, chondroprotectors, muscle relaxants and other drugs in the form of pills and injections are used for these purposes.
- Physiotherapy treatment.As a rule, physical therapy is prescribed as an adjunct to drug therapy. This can be massage therapy, acupuncture, laser exposure, magnetotherapy, UHF therapy and other procedures that help to relax the neck muscles, eliminate spasm and normalize blood circulation.
- Physiotherapy.This is a very important part of cervical spine treatment. The fact is that special physical exercises help not only strengthen the muscle structure and straighten your posture, but also improve the blood supply to the upper part of the spine. First, the doctor selects a set of 6-8 exercises, then adds new ones, gradually increasing physical activity.
Surgical methods of treating osteochondrosis
In the absence of the effect of conservative methods of treatment or in advanced cases of the disease, it is necessary to treat osteochondrosis of the cervical spine using surgical methods. The main task of surgeons is to eliminate pressure on nerve roots, arteries, spinal cord and other structures in the corresponding area.
To solve this problem, the following types of operations on the cervical spine are used:
- microsurgical discectomyduring which the doctor, under the control of a microscope, performs the excision of the intervertebral hernia with incomplete or complete removal of the intervertebral disc;
- laminectomy, which provides for partial or complete resection of the vertebral arch, spinous processes, facet joints and ligaments to reduce the load on the spinal cord root;
- endoscopic surgerywith the removal of hernias, tumors and degenerative-dystrophic alterations through a miniature access with an endoscope;
- laser nucleoplastywith a puncture through which a laser light guide is inserted, which is necessary to remove a small fragment of the nucleus of the intervertebral disc.
Prevention of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
Many patients mistakenly think that cervical osteochondrosis disappears immediately after conservative therapy or surgery. But any method of treatment can only stop or slow the progression of the disease. That is why, after a course of treatment, a person will have to observe the following measures for the prevention of cervical osteochondrosis:
- lead a healthy and active lifestyle;
- avoid lifting weights;
- sleeping on an orthopedic mattress and pillow;
- visit the pool regularly;
- perform a set of sports exercises;
- be careful when turning your head;
- maintain a balanced diet.
Rehabilitation
The rehabilitation plan is designed according to the stage of the pathology, the patient's health status, as well as their age, weight and general well-being. The program may include medical massage, exercise therapy and physical therapy. This will help improve health, prevent complications and relapses.
Questions and answers
Which doctor should I contact with cervical spine problems?
The diagnosis and treatment of these problems are performed by a neurologist and a traumatologist-orthopedist.
What medications can be used to relieve cervical spine pain?
Appointment of analgesics should be carried out by an experienced doctor after a thorough examination and diagnosis.
How likely is my back problem if I don't play sports?
Unfortunately, problems with the spine end up showing up in almost everyone. To avoid serious complications, it is necessary to exercise regularly, in addition to taking prophylactic and multivitamin chondroprotectors.